Safety water light



Nov. 18,1941. w. B. RINER 2,263,518

SAFETY WATER LIGHT Filed July 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 18', 1941. -w. B. RlNER 2,263,518

SAFETY WATER LIGHT Patented Nov. v18, 1941 Unirse sTATEs PATENT oFFlcl-z 2.263.518 SAFETY ws'rnn .LIGHT Wiliiam B. Riner, Cincinnati, Ohio Application my ze, i939, serial No. 287,173

(ci. iti-329) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to safety lights and more particularly to a safety light adapted for marine use. f

This invention is an improvement over the safety light structures embodied in my prior Patents No. 2,104,762 which issued January 11,` 1938 and No, 2,148,323 which issued February 21, i939.

An object of this invention is to provide a light which may be connected to a life saving ring or belt and which is adapted to be removably mounted in a convenient position on a vessel so that when the life belt ring is removed from its port the safety light which is connected thereto will also be pulled ofi of the support and will automatically light up so that the position of the life belt or ring in the Water can be readily determined in the dark.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved safety light of this character in combination with 'an improved holder therefor which is adapted to be mounted on a vessel so that the safety light can be quickly removed from the holder. but ls normally held against movement, the holder being of such a character as to eliminate the use of tools' to remove the light therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a light of this character an improved battery holder or clamping means so as to removably hold the battery in the container or outer shell.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved circuit closing means which is so constructed that it is normally in a'circuit breaking position, but will automatically move to a circuit closing position when the device has been removed from the support-and projected into the water.

Embodying the foregoing aims and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the in- Figure 4 is a vertical section of a modified forml of this invention.

Referring to the drawings and rst to Figures 1 to 3 the numeral Ill designates generally a safety light constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. The safety light I0 comprises a cylindrical housing II formed with an inner fiat bottom I2 provided with a central opening I3, an outer bottom formed of a cupshaped member It having a laterally projecting flange I5 and an upwardly projecting flange I6 integral with .the flange I5 encompassing' and secured to the lower end of the housing II. The cup-shaped member I4 on the inside thereof has a weight element Il secured therein so that when the shell II is mounted in the water the weight It will maintain the device in an upright posi tion. 'I'he inner bottom I2 as shown in the drawings abuts against the adjacent end of the housing II and the flange I5 of the outer bottom engages against the outer or lower face of the inner bottom I2. d

The upper or opposite end of the housing II has a ring I8 mounted therein, the ring I8 having a flange I9 telescoping the upper end of the housing II and if desired the flange I9 may be soldered or otherwise firmly secured to the housing II. A light base member generally designated as 20 is mounted on top of the ring I8 and comprises an outer flange 2I which is adapted to engage the upper surface of the ring I8 and aninner base plate 22 which is upwardly offset as by an extension 23 from the outer flange 2|. The plate 22 is provided inl substantially the center thereof with an opening 24 the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. The base member 20 is of inverted cup-shape and formed with a lateral extending annular flange at its bottom.

'I'he base member 20 is secured to the housing II through the ring I8 by means of bolts or screws 25 winch are threaded into a clamping ring 28. The clamping ring 28 is positioned on the inner side of the ring I8 and has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the top ring I8. A sealing gasket 21 is interposed between the flange 2l and the top ring I8 so as to prevent any water or moisture from entering the interior of the housing II. The base plate 22 outwardly from the opening 24 is provided with an upstanding ring or flange 2l and an annular lens 28 engages on the base plate 22 about the flange or ring 28. As gasket 80 is lnterposed between the lower end of the cylindrical lens 29 and the upper face of the base plate 22.

A cover or hood generally designated as 9| is mounted on top of the lens 29 and comprises a dome-shaped body 32 having an annular flange 33 projecting outwardly and\beyond the outer diameter of the lens 29. Clamping bolts 34 .en-

vgage through openings 35 provided in the ange 33 and these bolts 34 are threaded into the base member 29. The bolts 34, may be locked by means of lock nuts 35 which engage the underside of the flange 33 and are threaded onto the bolts 34. vThe body 32 at its lower end is pro- 'vided with an annular downwardly projecting 4 42 having exterior threads 43 and a cap 44 is threaded onto the threads 43 and is provided with an opening 45. The switch structure 4| includes a spring-pressed plunger 49 and a threaded stem 41 which engages through the opening 49 and is tightly secured therein by upper and lower nuts 48 and 49 respectively. A flexible diaphragm 59- is interposed between the cap 44 and the outer end of the neck 42 and engages the upper end of the plunger 45. In this manner the switch structure 4| is normally sealed against the entrance of water. I:Ehe tension of the plunger 49 is such that when the safety light structure has been removed from the holder to be hereinafter described the switch Will be biased to a closed or circuit closing position and will normally flex the diaphragm 59 upwardly into the opening 45 in the cap 44.

A battery retainer generally designated as is mounted within the housing and comprises a shell 52 and a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending bars or strips 53 of greater length than and which are secured as by soldering or other fastening means to the outer periphery of the shell 52. The lower ends of the strips or bars 53 are bent right-angularly and outwardly as at 54 providing holding feet which are adapted to be fastened as by soldering or the like to the upper surface of the inner bottom |2. The strips 53 extend above the top of shell 52 and have their upper terminal portions bent in a manner to form what may be termed lateral extensions each formed of a right angularly and outwardly disposed portion 55 and an upwardly disposed portion 55 arranged at right angles to the portion55. The portions 59 engage the inner surface of the housing and engage beneath the lower edge of an inner ring 51 which is flxedly secured to the inner surface of the housing at a point upwardly from the lower end thereof.

A battery 58 is removably mounted in the shell 52 and is provided with a pair of poles or terminals 59 and 69. In the present instance the battery 58 is substantially square in transverse section and the shell 52 has a similar configuration in transverse section so that the battery 59 may be readily mounted in the shell 52. The battery 58 is releasably held in the retainer 5| by means of a batteryvclamping bar 9| which extends across the top of the battery 58 with slightly downwardly offset end portions 52 which are adapted to engage a pair of diametrically opposed portions 55 of a pair of extensions. The

bar 9| is removably held in clamping position by means of nuts 93 which engage screws 94 carried by the said pair of apertured diametrically opposed portions 55 of the said pair of extensions. The bar 9| at a point in substantially the longitudinal center thereof and on one edge is provided with a recessed portion 95 to clear terminal 59. 'I'he body of housing |9, inner bottom I2. retainer 5|, ring 51, clamping bar 5|, nuts 93 and screws 94 correlate to form a permanently xed holder for and having the battery removably mounted therein. The retainer 5| prevents the battery from shifting on the inner bottom 2 and maintains the battery coaxially with the housing The bar 9| in connection with a pair of the extensions of the retainer 5|, the nuts 93 and screws 94 removably secures the battery in the retainer 5|. The ring 51 prevents the retainer 5|, with the battery arranged in the latter from shifting lengthwise of the housing A lamp socket 59 is mounted within the lens 29 being supported by means of a supporting bar 91 which is secured to the base plate 22 by means of a screw or bolt 99. The socket 99 includes a lower contact strip 59 which is connected to the pole 99 of the battery 58 by means of a wire 19. The socket 99 also includes a second contact strip 1| which has one end of a wire 12 secured thereto. The opposite end of the wire 12 is connected to the switch structure 4|., A wire 13 connects the pole 59 with the switch 4| so that upon closing of the switch 4| a circuit will be completed from the pole 59 through the wire 13, switch 4|, wire 12, contact strip 1| light bulb 14, contact strip 99, and wire 19 back to the other battery pole 99.

The light structure I9 is adapted to be supported in a convenient position by means of a. holder structure generally designated as 15, where it may be attached to a safety belt or. buoy (not shown) which is tied to ring 99. This structure 15 includes a vertically disposed base plate 19 which at its lower end is provided with a ring 11 engaging about the cup-shaped member I4 andagainst the underside of the ange I5. An upwardly extending arm 18 is carried by the ring 11 and may be secured to the vertical bar or base member 19 by suitable fastening devices. A pair of resilient longitudinal arcuate clamping arms 19 are carried by the base member 19 above the lower end thereof and are secured by any fastening means to the base member 19. The clamping arms-19 may be provided with out-turned free end portions 99 to facilitate the positioning of the shell therebetween. A switch-depressing member 8| comprising angularly related bars 82, downwardly extending members 93 and V-shaped cap-engaging members 94 is adapted to engage beneath the lower edge of the cap 44 so as to yieldably hold the depressing member 8| in applied position on the cap 44. The depressing member 8| is provided with a downwardly projecting member 95 which is engageable with the diaphragm 59 in the center thereof so as to depress the plunger 46 and hold this plunger in a normal circuit-breaking position. The switch structure 4| is similar to the switch structure embodied in my prior patents hereinbefore mentioned. l

The switch-depressing member 8| has a chain or flexible member 99 secured at one end thereto and the opposite end of the chain or flexible member 99 is secured to an eye or ring 91 which is carried by the base member 19 at a point adjacent the upper end thereof. The housing at a point adjacent the upper end thereof has a ring 88 which is carried by a strap having an arcuate intermediate portion 88 and upper andv lower portions 90 which are adapted to be secured as by fastening members 9| to the exterior of the housing I. The ring 88 is provided for the purpose of securing one end of a chain or other suitable flexible member thereto with the opposite end of this latter chain secured to a. life preserver in the form of a ring or other buoyant structure.

In Figure 4, there'is disclosed a modified form of this safety light wherein the light structure I8 is normally in an inverted position from the light structure I8. The light structure I comprises a cylinder II having an inner bottom I2 provided with a central opening I3 and an outer bottom I8 of cup-shaped member provided with an outer flange I5 and an annular flange or ex- L.ension I6 integral with the flange |5. A weight Il is secured to the inner concave side of the cup-shaped member I d A lower ring I8 provided with an upwardly extending annular flange I9 is secured to the upper end of a shell II and a lens base member 28 similar to the base 28 is secured to the lower ring I8 by means of bolts 25 which are threaded linto a clamping ring 28.

A gasket 21 is interposed between the lens base 28 and the upper ring Ilia. A lens 28 of substantially cylindrical construction engages about a rib 28 carried by the base member 28 and a dome-shaped hood or top 3i is secured on the lower end of the cylindrical lens member 29 by means of holding bolts 34% The bolts 38 engage through a flange 33 carried by the upper portion of the hood or dome member 8| and an annular rib 3l is carried by the hood or some member 3| and about which the lower end of the lens 29 engages. The hood 8l at its lower portion is provided with an annular downwardly projecting flange 42, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

A battery 58 similar to the battery 58 is mounted within a retainer 5| lsimilar to the retainer 5| and a battery clamping bar 8| is removably mounted on the retainer 6I by means of thumb nuts 63 which are threaded on the bolts 64 engaging through laterally projecting extensionsl 55 carried by the longitudinally extending bars or strips 53 which are fastened to the inner shell 52. Ring 51 is fixed to the inner shell surface of the housing I and downwardly projecting extensions 56 are carried by the lateral extensions 55 and engage above the ring 51, A lamp socket 86 is supported in an opening 24 provided in the base member 20 by means of a supporting bar 81. A contact strip 68 is carried by the socket 6'6. A light bulb 14 is removably mounted in the socket 66. A liquid switch 4| is removably secured in a resilient holder 92 which is fixed to a plate 83 fastened to the inner surface of the housing One side of the switch 4| is connected as by a wire 1I.a to a battery pole 58 and a sec;- ond wire 13 is connected atone end to the opposite side of the liquid switch 4| and at the opposite end to the contact strip 89. A wire is connected atY one end to a second battery pole S0 and at the opposite end to the terminal or contact strip 1 I With the exception of the switch 4| and the chain at the top of the hood, the structure of the light I0 is identical with the light I0 and the slight change in the top of the hood JI.

The light member I0 is supported by means of a supporting member which comprises a back or base member 18 and a cup-shaped lower member 94. The cup-shaped member 94 comprises a bottom wall 95 and an upstanding annular flange or rim 86 which is adapted to engage about the flange or neck 42 so as to hold the inverted light member |0. A horizontally disposed bar or arm 91 is carried by the cupshaped member 84 and is provided with a vertically disposed arm 88 which is secured tothe lower end of the base member 18. A resilient clamp 18 similar to the clamp 18 is secured at its intermediate portion 89 to the outer side of the base 18a'. y

In the use and operation of this safety light vwhere the light structure I8 is used, the supporting member 'I5 ls secured to the desired part of the vessel and a life Vpreserver is connected to the ring 88. The bottom of the light structure I8 is adapted to seat in the ring 11 and the clamp 19 will firmly hold the light body in a. vertical position on the supporting structure 15. The switch depressing member 8| is snapped over lthe cap 44 so as to depress the switch plunger 48 and maintain the light circuit to the light bulb 'I4 in an open position.

In theevent it is necessary to use the light Ill the cylinder II may be grasped and pulled laterally or forwardly, which movement will release the cup-shaped member I4 from the ring 11 and at the same time, the clamping or holding member 19 will yield to release the cylindrical portion II of the light I8. If desired, initially the switch depresser 8| may be first pulled off of the cap 44, but in an emergency itis not necessary to do this as the withdrawal or release of the light Ill from the holder 15 and the outward movement thereof will release the depresser 8| by reason of the fact that the chain or flexible member 86 is connected to one of the clamping members 84 and forcible pulling of the light structure I0 will expand the yieldable clamping members 88, 84. As soon as the depresser 8| is released from the cap 44 the plunger 46 will iiex the sealing diaphragm 50 forwardly and the l electric circuit to the light bulb 14 will lbe closed. This circuit will then remain closed until the light structure I0 is replaced on the holder 15 and the depresser 8| is restored -to the cap 44.

The weight I1 will maintain the light I0 in anA upright position in the water.

Where the light structure I8 is used the light may be released from the holder 15 by pulling the entire structure outwardly from the upper end thereof so as to release the housing I |n from the holding clamps 19. In this form the inverted upper end 3|y of the light rests on the supporting cap 84 so that when the light structure I0 is released from the clamp 19 it may be projected into the water. The weight I1 will cause the light IIJ to turn over to its upright position with the hood 3| uppermost. When the light structure I0 is in its operative position the uid in the switch 4| will bridge the contacts connected to the wires'12 and 13 thus closing the electric circuit from the battery 58 to the light bulb 14. The circuit closing liquid in the switch 4|'I is of such volume that the electric circuit to the bulb will not be readily broken by the bobbing or swinging movement of the light structure I8 in the water.

A light structure constructed according to this invention will provide a factor of safety in connection with a life preserver so that when the life preserver is thrown into the water at night the exact position of the life preserver can be readily determined. The battery used with this light structure is of such capacity that the light "bulb will be maintained in a lighted condition for a considerable period of time.

What I claim is:

1. A safety water light comprising, 'in combination a. cylindrical housing closed at its top. said housing including an inner bottom section in thr form of a flat annulus bearing against the bottom edge thereof and an outer bottom section for closing the bottom of the housing, said outer bottom section formed of an annular angle-shaped outer portion having an outer part encompassing and secured to the body of the housing and an inner part abutting the outer marginal portion of the lower face of said inner section and a cup-shaped inner portion integral with and depending from said inner part and provided with a weighting means.

2. In a safety water light comprising in combination a buoyant cylindrical housing having a chamber at its top, an electric lamp in said chamber and a bottom formed of inner and outer sections, said outer section including a weighing means, a battery within the housing, seated on said inner bottom section, and connected to the lamp, retaining means for the battery mounted on said inner bottom section. means secured to said retaining means for removably securing the battery in said retaining means. and a holding ring secured to the inner face of said housing and bearing on the said retaining means.

3. In a safety water light an open top buoyant housing, a dat ring seated on the top edge oi' and formed with a ange encompassing and secured to the upper portion of the housing, a

WILLIAM B. EINER. 

